January 7, 2023

By Bill Berkowitz

Had Title 42 been lifted, there might have been an explosion of violence against immigrants by white nationalist groups, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Expecting Title 42 to be lifted, the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that should that happen, there might be an uptick anti-immigrant violence.

According to CBS News (https://www.aol.com/homeland-security-warns-potential-domestic-000236669.html), “Intelligence officials ‘have observed calls for attacks targeting primarily migrants and critical infrastructure,’ according to a bulletin issued on Dec. 23 by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence & Analysis, which cites social media discussion of ‘firearms attacks, the placement of land mines along migration routes, and luring migrants into trailers to poison them with gas.’"

The DHS memo reads: “We have not previously observed calls for substation attacks in response to immigration-related concerns, and these recent discussions may stem from widespread media coverage of recent attacks against other substations across the United States, particularly in Moore County, North Carolina.”

Earlier this year, a public advisory issued by DHS warned that, "Potential changes in border security enforcement policy, an increase in noncitizens attempting to enter the U.S., or other immigration-related developments may heighten these calls for violence."

Granting a petition from Republican-led states, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court allowed U.S. border officials to continue expelling migrants under the pandemic-related measure, known as Title 42. CBS News reported (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-keeps-title-42-border-expulsions-indefinitely-grants-gop-led-petition/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) that, “The high court decided to hear a request from 19 Republican-led states who were seeking to delay the end of Title 42, which was originally set to expire on Dec. 21 because of a lower court order that found the policy to be unlawful. The Supreme Court will now hear arguments on whether it should allow the Republican-controlled states to defend Title 42's legality during its February 2023 session.”

Violence against immigrants is nothing new. A CNN story noted that “Grievances over immigration policy and animosity toward immigrants have previously fueled extremist acts, including the 2019 Walmart shooting in El Paso, Texas, that killed 23 people and left another 23 wounded. Authorities said at the time the accused shooter drove to the West Texas border city with the sole intent of killing immigrants and Mexicans” (https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/28/politics/title-42-violent-extremist-attacks/index.html?ftag=YHF4eb9d17).

According to reporting by The Center for Public Integrity’s Kristian Hernández (https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/anti-immigrant-rhetoric-spiked-in-this-election-heres-why-its-dangerous/), “Anti-immigrant rhetoric has featured prominently in Republican candidates’ campaign ads and speeches ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections. But watchdogs say this election cycle is different because of how much the GOP has embraced and promoted a more sinister mix of fringed conspiracy theories rooted in xenophobia and white supremacy.

“Experts and voting rights advocates worry history is repeating itself as red herrings about noncitizens voting and claims of an invasion at the border are used while lawmakers curtail voting rights and ballot access across most of the country. Immigration advocates worry the lies and hateful rhetoric brewing this election cycle could spur some to violence.” 

America’s Voice, an immigrant advocacy group that’s been tracking GOP messaging in political ads since 2018, “tracked more than 600 messages about an invasion at the border from more than 100 GOP candidates, political action committees and right-wing media outlets this election season,” Hernández reported.